The great soldibody with updated electronics and some traditional-looking appointments.

The American Standard Stratocaster is the same great best-selling, go-to guitar it has always been, and now it's upgraded with aged plastic parts and full-sounding Fender Custom Shop Fat '50s pickups. The latest iteration of the time-honored classic, it is the very essence of Strat tone and remains a beauty to see, hear and feel.

I've been a Stratocaster owner and player for over 30 years! This guitar arrived via UPS in a timely manner undamaged. According to the serial number, this guitar is a year 2013 model....Read complete review

I've been a Stratocaster owner and player for over 30 years! This guitar arrived via UPS in a timely manner undamaged. According to the serial number, this guitar is a year 2013 model. I always expect that a guitar should be setup properly and ready to go right out of the box, and the setup of this guitar was good out of the box, even though I still performed my own set up to meet my comfort level of playing. I received the Olympic White model with the maple fret board model and I love it! I happen to own a few USA Fender Stratocasters dating from 1975 through 2013 including this recent acquisition and some of the specs have changed over the years within the USA Standard models. What really stands out on this current generation of Stratocasters is the Custom Shop Fat 50 pickups. The Fat 50's are very good pickups. Due to the fact that I play multiple styles of music from Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rock and R&B, the Fat 50 pickups have good presence in the mid and high tonal ranges, which allows me to stay on the top of the mix for solos and allows good presence and resolution for rhythm guitar playing while playing a supportive role in the band when I need to stay within the mix. Being that I love to play jazz, I found that the Custom Shop Fat 50 pickups give decent roll off of the highs with the tone select switch in the neck position to give me the warmer jazz tones that I like. I would prefer even a greater degree of roll off of the highs as these pickups have quite a bit of brightness, particularly with the maple fret board, but the tone is good enough for me to get the job done. The Pro Series hard shell case that comes with the guitar, is not as good of quality as the Fender cases that were made in the 60's 70's 80's or 90's, but I do like the fact that case is a tradition style Fender case in comparison to the over sized SKB that was included in the previous USA Standard model. Overall, I feel that this is a great guitar and I prefer the overall sound on this current model compared to the standard pickups in the previous Standard model that date around the years 2005 through 2010. Again....I love it! Great guitar!

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

High hopes, but dissapointed.

I've been considering buying one of these for years. Finally broke down and ordered one from MF. First of all, I had them do a price match with the smile on the box...Read complete review

I've been considering buying one of these for years. Finally broke down and ordered one from MF. First of all, I had them do a price match with the smile on the box people. Saved a couple hundred, but they sent me a used guitar. I didn't get a used guitar price on it, so that wasn't cool. When I first opened it up the case was very nice and high quality. When I first saw the guitar it was beautiful. I love the Sienna Sunburst finish. It seemed to be very well made and surprisingly light. I don't like the fact that I ordered a maple neck/fret board and they put a finish on the fret side. Why would they do that? The best guitar I've ever played has a solid maple neck/fret board and it is completely unfinished other than oiled. I did not like the way your hand kinda sticks to it. The tone of this guitar is good. Very bright and bluesy with good cleans through mild crunch. But that's about all it's good for. Anything over mild gain and it just doesn't sound good. That is through a good tube amp too. The main problem I have with this guitar is that no matter what I do, it just won't stay in tune. Very subtle vibrato on the tremo, and you have to stop and retune. That drives me nuts and shouldn't be an issue on a guitar that costs, well, you know what they charge for one of these. Personally, I don't see what is so great about a Strat. I've played more versatile, better guitars for half the price. If you mainly play blues or country, this is a great guitar for you, as long as you don't touch the tremolo bar. I'm sending this one back.

I purchased this in Ocean Blue after exploring and playing a variety of strats, les pauls, and teles, to include the classic vibes and Made in Mexo (MIM) models, as well as the china and indonesia models.

For one thing, if you're serious about your playing, don't even bother with anything other than the American Standard. The MIM is ideal for learning to customize, and the classic vibes feel like toys in comparison. I read all the reviews and tried everything out in person. You want the American made at a minimum for serious playing and performing.

I chose the maple fretboard, since it has a slightly brighter sound. The rosewood sounds darker and heavier, and it's a little harder to brighten a sound with pedals and effects.

I also chose the single coils (sss) vice the hss since I currently have humbuckers on my hollow body and prefer them on les pauls. I wanted a classic strat and sound, and this model more than delivered.

I personally play praise and worship music at our church, and this has allowed me to play songs with a Hillsong / U2 / Tomlin feel. I couldn't be happier, and will be keeping this guitar for life.

Bought one on sale for what a MIM would normally go for and thought it would be a back up to my Gibson Les Paul but that is just not the case. This guitar is far better than any MIM I have ever played and the tone is equal to any high end Gibson I have played/own. The delta tone pot allow for dynamic range and provides a little extra grit when needed. The bridge and machine heads are an excellent combination allowing the guitar to stay in tune through dive bombs and bends making it very practice for any situation.

I finally caved and bought one of these in black with a maple fret board.

The guitar looks as good as it feels and plays. The aged plastic on the pick-ups and tone knobs looks fantastic. The maple fret board is super smooth and responsive and great for bending, and the glossy finish looks great. Mine came set up with a low-action resulting in some minor fret-buzz but that can be adjusted.

I am running mine through a 40w Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a Tube Screamer and a Cry Baby and the tone is just excellent in both the clean channel and with the overdrive cranked way up. It also sounds great with the wah pedal. I tried it with a few distortion pedals and did not like the sound, but that was to be expected. I am getting great sustain even without a chorus/sustain pedal in front. I was originally planning to replace the Fat 50's with some Seymour Duncans but I think I will keep the 50's in, they sound great.

Case is nice, but minorly annoying thing is you have to take the whammy bar off for it to fit in the case.

I've safely have had this guitar for a little over a year. 2013 model. First and foremost, those CS Fat '50s are INCREDIBLE!!!! I play mostly alternative country through a modded SuperReverb and various Wampler and Dunlop pedals. I tried out multiple guitars, including another American Standard (3TS-Maple) as well as the Mayer Signature, and this one spoke to me the most.

Now, the finish, mine's OW. And it's relicing so great after one year of solid performing, you wouldn't believe it's only a year old. I have a 1990s strat with a Clapton boost in it that I compare it to, and it takes the toll. I can even pull tele sounds with it too.

I have been playing for a long time. I have 14 guitars. I can tell you that this is a fantastic instrument worth every penny they charge for it. I have a fender Mexican stat that looks almost identical. That is where the similarities end. The American standard has a superior feel to it. It's kind of something that is hard to describe, but in my opinion well worth the money. The American also comes with a case where the Mexi doesn't. Don't get me wrong the mexi strat is a good instrument just different. The difference in quality, feel and sound, is very evident. So if your not sure if the American is worth the money in my opinion it defiantly is. Just cause they look the same don't mean they are.

I've read all the reviews here - mostly all positive - of the negative - I didn't have any of the issues - it arrived in perfect condition - the box was not opened - which I was expecting and hoping for (I do not want anyone doing a pre-inspection - because you never know if you are receiving a returned item) - I want the guitar as it came from Fender.

This guitar is perfect - I cannot find a single flaw like few others have mentioned - this is not going back.

I love the Mystic Blue - you really have to see it in person - this guitar is beautiful - feels absolutely wonderful - I cannot imagine a boutique custom builder making anything much better. Fender did a great job on this.